Connecticut western news., 1887-11-23
GREAT HARRINGTON.
SKETCH OF JOHN NJ. SHELBY.

SKETCH OF JOHN NJ. SHELBY.
 In the death of Hon John NJ. Seeley, at his residence in the village of Housa- tonic, last Wednesday evening, this town looses Q well-known and highly respected citizen. John NJ. Seeley was born in Great Harrington in 1914 and was son of John Seeley, merchant of the town. The subject of this sketch was educated in the common schools of the town and at the academies in Stock bridge and Lenox. About 1882 he was in the employ of Washington Adams, a manufacturer at VanDeusenville, and was soon after clerk there. In 1846 Mir Seeley went to South Adams, where he was town clerk for while and repre- sented the town as whig in the legisla- ture in 1854. Sometime that year he removed to Housatonic and was appoin. ted agent and treasurer of the Monu- ment Mills company. The company prospered, and in 1864 John M Seeley, Henry Adams and Joseph G. Fuller built small mill at the lower water privilege and began making cotton warps In 1866 George Cofing, George Church, John M. Seeley and others organized the Waubeek mills corpora tion, and that year erected the present brick factory where counterpanes are now made. Mir Seeley was one of the selectmen of Great Darlington from 1862 to 1865, inclusive, and with George Church and 0. J. Taylor, his name will go down to posterity as the old war board of selectmen. In 1874 he was chosen as republican to the legislature and in 1882 and 1883 was senator to Boston from the South Berkshire dist rict. For some time previous to the appointment of the present incum bent, he was postmaster at Housatonic. Some two years ago his health failed. Death resulted from a second shock, which occurred last week. His wife, who survives him, was Sarah Montgomery, of VanDeusenville. A daughter, Mrs living. The funeral was largely atten- ded from the Congregational church Saturday afternoon, Rev F. B. Butler officiating. A large number of manu- lecturers were present from various parts of the county, from New York city and Connecticut.
 The preliminary trial of John Williams and William Lynch, whose place of residence is unknown, was conducted before the district court in this village Saturday afternoon. They are charged with burglary, and the circumstances of thelr arrest by Deputy sheriffs, Moody Slocum and Langdon was given last week. The prisoners, who have since been in jail at Pitts field, were brought down in the morn ing by sheriff Langdon and officer Flynn. The court room was crowded with people. Lawyer Joyner appeared for the prosecution and Collins for the de- fence A complete chain of evidence was made out against the accused from the time they were seen by daylight and darkness lurking about this village until they were found in the depot at Van Deusenville where they bought tickets for Canaan. They went on foot from Canaan to West Norfolk and then came aboard the train and were captured by the officers, and handcuffed under cover of 8 revolver in the hand ot Officer Langdon. At Van Deusenville, where $2O worth of tickets were stolen, they dropped matches on the office floor entirely unlike those used in the office and the same kind of matches were found in their pockets. The iron jimmy found with their set of burglars tools has green and red paint on 1t, being the same colors on the door of Tobey's jewelry store, to which burglars had almost obtained an entrance when the alarm bell, which awakened Charles Brown, sounded about 2 o'clock in the morning November 18th. That evening John Williams was seen to enter Nolan's saloon on Water street where he purchased bottle of whiskey, anC Nolan's place was entered the same night and about S2 taken from the money drawer. and this compared witt the amount found loose in their pocket. Cigars aud sardlues were StuIeu aud tue same articles were found with them
 A number of witnesses, including those from Canaan and East Canaan testified to seeing these two men, one taller than the other, together, witt their travelling bags, and Sheriffs Slocun and Langdon related the manner O their arrest. The burglars tools witl the six shooters were displayed and ex plained to the court and at the conclu sion of the trial in the evening, Jud g' Shores bound them over to the grau< jury, and in default of 5000 bond each, they were taken to the jail al Pittsfeld the same night, to await th' action of the grand jury in January Detective Hall, of the post-office depart ment, was present during the trial. Th' public opinion IS that two notorious
 burglars have been captured. Fou warrants will be sent to the grand jur, against the accused. These are fo entering through window the resi- dence of station agent Watson at Van Deusenv1le, entering Nolan's saloon
 entering Broderick's blacksmith shop
 where tools were stolen; and attemp to enter with the intent to steal, iron Tobey's jewelry store.